Trolley-retriever and take-up device.



P. D. MILLQY. TROLLEY BBTBIEVEB AND TAKE-UP DEVICE.

-APPLIUATION FILED DBO. 5, 1904.

Patented Aug. 23, 1910.

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APPLICATION FILED DEU. 5, 11.904.

u Patented Aug. 23, 1910.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER DANIEL MILLOY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T0 W. CLAYTON LLOYD, OF WAUSEON, OHIO.

TROLLEY-RETRIEVER AND TAKE-UP DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 23, 1910.

To all whom 'it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER D. MILLoY, of New York, in the county of New York, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Trolley-Retrievers and Take-Up Devices, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in trolley retrievers to be placed in a suitable posit-ion upon a trolley-car and connected to the trolley-arm to automatically take up any slack in the trolley-cord and at the same time to automatically draw the trolley-arm downwardly out of the way of overhead obstructions in case the trolley should accidentally leave the wire.

It is well known that these trolley-arms are spring pressed upwardly into engagement with the trolley wire with considerable force to conform to the variations in the height of the trolley-wire above the car and that it frequently happens that the trolley becomes displaced from the wire while the car is in motion and unless some provision is made for the recovery of the trolley-arm immediately upon its displacement from the wire it is thrown upwardly with considerable force, thereby coming in contact with overhead obstructions and causing considerable damage, either to the cross wires or to the trolley pole and its fastenings.

I am aware that heretofore provision has been made, notably in the IVood Patent No. 484,986, dated October 25, 1892, for automatically taking up the slack in the trolley cord as the trolley-arm rises and lowers, and I am also aware that certain means as set forth in the Kynoch Patent No. 745,502-, dated December 1, 1903, have been devised, whereby a sudden jerk upon the trolley-cord caused by the accidental displacement of the trolley-arm from the overhead wire brings into action certain mechanism for drawing the trolley-arm downwardly out of the way of overhead obstructions, and is held in this position until released by the conductor or other attendant, but I believe myself to be the first to provide means brought into action by the trolleycord when the trolley leaves the wire, whereby the trolley-arm is drawn downwardly by means of compressed air in combination with a take-up drum for the trolley-cord.

My object therefore, is to combine a trolley retriever brought into action by compressed air with a take-up device for the trolley-cord whereby the trolley-arm may rise and lower gradually to conform to variations in the height of the trolley-wire, but in case of the trolley accidentally leaving the wire, which would produce a sudden upward jerk upon the trolley-cord the compressed air operated mechanism will be instantly brought into action to draw the trolley-arm downwardly out of the way of the overhead wires or other obstructions.

The object more specifically stated is to connect the trolley arm to a movable piston which is actuated by compressed air and to control the admission of the air to the piston cylinder by means of the trolley-cord.

Another object is to connect the trolleycord to the piston in such manner that a certain movement of the piston will produce substantially twice the downward movement of the trolley-arm for the purpose of effecting a more instantaneous recovery of the trolley-arm when it leaves the wire.

Other objects and uses will appear in the following description.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a top plan, partly broken away, of a trolley retriever and a take-up device embodying the features of my invention, the cap or plate of the case which incloses the take-up drum being removed to disclose the underlying parts, the parts being shown in their normal position. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2 2, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of the parts seen in Fig. 1, except that the movable parts are shown in their operative position assumed when recovering or drawing the trolleyarm downwardly. Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional views taken on line 4 4, and 5 5, Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6 6, Fig. 2, showing particularly the toothed rack and pawls cooperating therewith and omitting the inclosing case. Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7 7 Fig. 6.

In carrying out t-he objects stated, a cylinder 1 is provided with opposite end heads Q and 3 one of which as the head 2 is formed with an inlet passage 4 opening into the adjacent end of the cylinder 1 while the opposite head 3- is hollow and elongated endwise to form a continuation of the cylinder 1 and is formed with a central guide opening 5 in its outer end for receiving and guiding a piston-rod 6 of a piston 7 This piston is secured to the end of the piston-rod nearest to the head Q and is movable endwise by compressed air against the action of a compression or coil-spring 8 which encircles therpiston-rod and is compressed between the head 3 and piston 7 to return the piston to its normal position when the air pressure on said piston is relieved. The opposite or outer end of the piston is provided with a forked head Q in which is rotatively mounted a grooved roller or sheave lO around which the trolley-cord, as l1 renders and has its ends passed backwardly through guide-tubes l2- at opposite sides of the cylinder l and connected respectively to a take-up drum 13 and to the trolleyarm, as A The ends of the cylinder 1 are seated in suitable recesses in the heads Q and 8 which are drawn firmly against the ends of the cylinder by suitable bolts 14tto make the joints air tight, said bolts being located at intervals around the cylinder and are tapped at one end into the head Q while the opposite ends are passed through apertures in the head 3 and provided with adjust-ing nuts 15- to draw the heads tightly against the ends of the cylinder. The guide tubes 12- are also tapped in the head Qv and extend forwardly in parallel lines tangential to the opposite sides of the grooved roller or sheave l and through suitable apertures in the head 3- so that these tubes are held rigidly in place by the heads Q and 3- and have their front ends terminating as near as practicable to the sheave to guide the trolley-cord and keep it from being accidentally displaced from the sheave. As a further protection against such displacement I provide the forked head with guardarms lwhich extends across the front side of the groove in the sheave where the trolley-cord is most liable to be displaced.

The forked head Q and its sheave are exposed beyond the ends of the cylinder head 3 but are normally protected from the elements by a shield or plate l6 which is secured to one side of the head 3 and the sheave is held against rocking movement or undue vibration by a fixed inclined friction shoe l7 which is secured to the opposite side of the head 3 and engaged by a flat surface on the under side of the sliding head 9 The take-up drum l3 is rotatingly mounted upon an upright stud or shaft 19 within an inclosing case 20 of which the head 2- forms a part, and this drum contains and is act-uated in one direc'- tion by a motor spring 21- having one end attached to the shaft 19 and its other end attached to the drum to which one end of the trolley-cord is attached to keep said trolley-cord taut. The case is provided with a removable cap or top Q2 to permit access to the interior mechanism, and the shaft or stud 19- is secured to and rises from the bottom of the case and supports a revoluble internally toothed rack or ratchet-wheel Q3 which is located directly beneath and in close proximity to the drum l3 A pair of diametrically opposite pawls M are pivoted at to the lower face of the drum l3 within the ratchetwheel 23 and their free ends are normally forced inwardly toward the axis of the ratchet-wheel and out of engagement with its teeth, as 25 by comparatively light springs 26 Fig. 7, so that the drum may rotate freely at a limited speed to keep the cord taut as the trolley-arm rises and lowers. rlhese pawls are balanced with reference to the springs 2G so that by any sudden jerk or rapid pull upon the trolley-cord, as when the trolley accidentally leaves the wire, the free ends of the pawls are thrown outwardly by centrifugal force into engagement with the teeth 25 thereby locking the take-up drum to and rotating with the wheel 23 in the direction indicated by arrow magainst the action of a second spring 27 The rotation of the ratchet-wheel 23- is, however, limited by stop shoulders 28 and 29 one of which, as 2S is fixed to the inside of the case 20 and the other shoulder 29 is secured to the periphery of the ratchet-wheel 23 as best seen in Figs. l, 3 and G. One end of the spring 27 is secured to the case 20 Fig. 2, and its other end is attached to the stud 30 on the underside of the wheel 23 and to this stud is also pivoted one end of a link 31 which has its other end pivotally attached to the valve arm 92 of an air valve 33 which is secured in the head 2 This valve case has three ways S4- 35 and 36, one of which, as S4- opens into the passage 4 5 another, as 35 is connected to a compressed air supply pipe 37 and the third, as 36 opens to atmosphere and forms a vent for the air in the cylinder 1 to permit the return of the piston 7 by the spring 8 In operation, one end of the trolley-cord is attached in any suitable manner to the periphery of the take-up drum, and passes outwardly between guide rollers 38 through an opening in the head Q and thence through the alined tube 12 and around the grooved roller or sheave 10, back through the other tube l2, and through a second opening in the head Q and around an idler -39-, and has its other end connected to the trolley-arm A-, in any suitable manner, not necessary to herein illustrate or describe. The valve proper is provided with a passage -flO- which is arranged to alternately connect the cylinder -lfirst with the vent and then with the compressed air conduit. Now, assuming thatthe operating parts are in their normal position, as seen in Figs. l and 2, then the take-up drum is free to rotate independently of the ratchet-wheel, and operates to keep the trolley-cord comparatively tight while the remaining parts remain in their normal positions. In case the trolley accidentally leaves the wire its operating spring, not shown, tends to throw it upwardly with great rapidity and considerable force, and therefore, a similar rapid action is imparted to the take-up drum through the medium of the trolley-cord which operates to throw the pawls 24 by centrifugal force into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 23, thereby rotating the ratchet -wheel a limited distance against the action of the spring 27 until stopped by the engagement of the shoulder 29 with the lixed shoulder. During this partial rotation of the ratchetwheel the link 3l, which is connected thereto, is moved a limited distance endwise and operates the valve to cut o' communication between the cylinder and atmosphere and to connect said cylinder with the compressed air conduit, whereupon the compressed air acting upon the piston moves the latter, and also the grooved roller -10- endwise. The take-up drum is now locked by the pawls to the ratchet-wheel, and as the rotation of the latter is limited by the stops 28 and 29, it is evident that the further rotation of the take-up drum is also prevented and the end of the trolley-cord attached thereto becomes fixed. Now, when the piston 7 and its grooved wheel -l0 carrying the trolley-cord, is moved endwise, the trolley arm is instantly and rapidly drawn downwardly out of the way of overhead obstructions and the tension of the cord act-ing on the take-up-drum, together with the opposed action of the spring 27, upon the ratchetwheel holds the pawls in frictional engagement with the teeth of the ratchet-wh-eel and prevents their returning to their normal positions until this tension is relieved by the operator pulling down on the trolleycord by hand. By thus connecting the piston to the trolley-cord intermediate its ends, it is evident that the trolley-arm and end of the cord attached thereto is moved substantially twice the distance through which the piston moves, thereby doubling the range of action and speed of movement in drawing the trolley arm out of the way of overhead obstructions when the trolley leaves the wire and enabling me to use a much shorter cylinder than if the piston were connected directly to the trolley-arm.

The complete device herein described maybe located in any suitable position on the car, but is preferably mounted in a horizontal position on the top of the car with the cap, and shield uppermost, the heads -2- and -3- being provided with suitable feet --45-, Figs. 1 and 2 for attachment to the car.

I do not wish to limit myself to the precise construction and arrangement shown and described as the details may be materially changed without. departing from the spirit of this invention. s0

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In a trolley retriever, the combination with a trolley pole, a trolley-cord and a rotary take-up drum therefor, of a lnember having a limited movement, means on the drum operated by centrifugal force to engage said movable member, a limit stop for said member, a bearing sheave engaging the cord between its points of attachment to the take-up drum at one end and to the trolley pole at the other end, and means controlled by said movable member for actuating the bearing sheave to draw the trolley down.

2. In a trolley retriever, the combination with a trolley-cord and a rotary take-up drum therefor, of a ratchet wheel having a. limited rocking movement, pavvls on the drum operated by centrifugal force into engagement with the ratchet-wheel limiting stops for the ratchet-wheel, a sheave engaging the cord between its ends, and means controlled by said ratchet wheel for actuating the sheave to draw the trolley down.

3. In a trolley retriever, the combination with a trolley-cord, of a rotary take-up drum therefor, a ratchet-wheel on the same axis with the drum, but separate 'therefrom and having a limited rocking movement, a pawl on the drum, operated by centrifugal force into engagement with said ratchet wheel, a spring to retract the pawl limiting stops for the ratchet and wheel, a sheave engaging the cord between the trolley and take-up drum, and means controlled by said wheel for actuating the sheave.

t. In a trolley retriever, the combination with a trolley pole, a trolley-cord anda rotary take-up drum therefor, of a member having a limited movement, means on the drum operated by centrifugal force to engage the movable member, a limit stop for said member, a bearing sheave engaging the cord between its points of attachment to the take-up drum at one end and to the trolley pole at the other end, a piston connected to said bearing sheave to operate the samel for drawing the trolley down, and a valve controlling admission of fluid to said piston,

and means whereby said valve is controlled by said movable member.

5. In a trolley retriever, a trolley arm and cord attached thereto, in combination with a take-up device attached to the cord, a piston operated by compressed air and provided with a rod, a sheave on the rod engaging the trolley-cord to pull down on the trolley-arm, means to supply compressed air ism brought into action by a sudden rapid movement of the take-up drum to open said valve.

7. In a trolley retriever, the combination with a trolley-cord and a take-up device therefor, of a toothed element having a limited rocking movement, a pawl actuated centrifugally by the take-up device to engage and rock the toothed element, a limiting stop for said element, a piston operated by compressed air a sliding sheave engaging the cord and actuated by the piston to draw down on the cord, means to supply compressed air to operate the piston, a valve controlling such supply, and connections between the toothed element and valve whereby the limited movement of said element opens the valve.

8. In a trolley retriever, an upwardly pressed trolley-pole, a piston operated by compressed air and connected to draw the pole down, in. combination with means to supply compressed air to operate the piston, a valve to control such supply, a cord for the trolley-arm, a take-up drum for the cord, a sheave connected to the piston and to the cord, a ratchet-wheel having a limited rocking movement, a pawl on the drum operated centrifugally to engage and rock the ratchetwheel, and connections between the ratchetwheel and valve to open the latter when the ratchet-wheel is rocked by the drum and pawl.

9. In a trolley retriever, the combination with a trolley-cord and a take-up device therefor, a sliding sheave engaging the cord between the take-up device and trolley-arm, of a toothed element having a limited rocking movement, a pawl actuated centrifugally by the take-up device to engage and rock the toothed element, a limiting stop for said toothed element, means to return the toothed element to its normal position and means controlled by the trolley-cord for actuating the sheave to draw the trolley down.

10. In a trolley-retriever, the combination with an upwardly pressed trolley arm, of a cylinder and a piston movable therein, a take-up drum, a cord attached to the trolley arm and to the take-up drum, a sliding sheave act uatcd by the piston and connected to the cord between the trolley-arm and take-up drum, means to supply compressed air to the cylinder to operate the piston in one direction, a valve to control such supply, additional means to return the piston, and mechanism brought into action by a sudden rapid movement of the drum to open the valve.

l1. In a device of the class described, a trolley pole, a trolley rope connected to said pole, a winding drum connected to said trolley rope, a ratchet wheel, centritugally actuated pawls ot the drum normally out of engagement with the ratchet wheel and adapted to engage therewith upon acceleration of speed of the drum, pneumatic mechanism for retrieving the trolley having a valve controlled by the movement of the ratchet wheel and a spring for normally maintaining it in full retracted position.

l2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a trolley pole and a trolley rope connected thereto, of spring mechanism for tensioning the rope, and pneumatic mechanism independent of t-he tensioning spring mechanism for drawing said rope down and retrieving said trolley pole when detached from the trolley wire.

13. In a device of the class described, the combination with a trolley pole and a trolley rope connected thereto of tensioning mechanism for maintaining the rope in taut condition, pneumatic mechanism :for drawing said rope down and retrieving said trolley pole when detached from the trolley wire, a valve controlling said pneumatic mechanism and mechanism connected to the tensioning mechanism for operating said valve actuated by abnormal draft on the trolley rope .and mechanism for normally maintaining said retrieving mechanism in and returning said retrieving mechanism to a fully retracted position, substantially as set forth.

l-it. In a device of the class described, a trolley pole, a trolley rope connected to said trolley pole, pneumatic mechanism having a piston connected to the trolley rope, a controlling valve for said pneumatic mechanism actuated automatically by abnormal upward pressure ot the trolley pole and a spring acting solely to normally maintain the pneumatic mechanism in full retracted position, whereby the pneumatic mechanism is always ready to quickly and positively retrieve the trolley pole.

l5. In a device of the class described, a

trolley pole, a trolley rope connected to said trolley pole, retrieving mechanism connected directly to said rope and including an air cylinder, a piston in the air cylinder and a spring adapted solely to always normally maintain the piston in its full retracted position, and independent mechanism for tensioning said trolley rope to always maintain it in taut position.

16. In a device of the class described, a trolley pole, a trolley rope connected to said pole, pneuniatically actuated trolley retrieving mechanism connected directly to said rope, trolley rope tensioning mechanism, and means independent of the trolley rope tensioning mechanism for normally maintaining the retrieving mechanism in retracted position.

17. In a device of the class described, a trolley pole, a trolley rope connected to said pole, a spring tensioned winding drum for the rope, an air cylinder, a piston in said cylinder and connected to the trolley rope intermediate its ends, means for supplying compressed air to said cylinder to move the piston in one direction, a controlling valve, spring means separate from and independent of the spring tensioned winding drum for returning the piston and a valve operating means actuated by sudden acceleration of movement of the winding drum.

18. In a device of the class described, a trolley pole, a trolley rope connected to said pole, a spring tensioned winding drum for the rope, an air cylinder, a piston in said cylinder and connected to the trolley rope intermediate its ends, means for supplying compressed air to said cylinder to move the piston in one direction, a controlling valve, spring means independent of the winding vdrum for returning the piston and always normally maintaining said piston retracted into the air cylinder to its full extent and centrifugal valve operating means actua-ted by sudden acceleration of movement of the winding drum.

19. In a device of the class described, a trolley p'ole, a rope connected to said pole, means for tensioning the rope, and a retriever for said pole including a piston connecting to the rope, nuematic mechanism for actuating said piston in a retrieving direction, and means entirely independent of the tensioning means for returning said piston to its normally full retracted position upon the release of the pneumatic mechanl ism.

20. In a device of the class described, a4 trolley pole, a rope connected to said pole,

means for tensioning the rope, and a retriever for said pole including a piston, pneumatic mechanism for actuating said piston in a retrieving direction and means entirely independent of the tensioning means for automatically returning said 4 piston when the air pressure is reduced or eX- hausted.

21. In a device of the class described, a trolley pole, a trolley rope connected to said pole, tensioning means for automatically maintaining the trolley rope in a taut condition, in combination with normally inoperative trolley retrieving mechanism, means for throwing said trolley retrieving mechanism into operation by abnormal movement of the trolley pole and means entirely independent of the tensioning means for returning said trolley retrieving mechanism to its normal inoperative position.

22. In a device of the class described, a trolley pole, a trolley rope connected to said pole, tensioning means for automatically maintaining the trolley rope in a taut condition, in combination with normally inoperative trolley retrieving mechanism, means controlled from the tensioning means for throwing said trolley retrieving mechanism into operat-ion by abnormal movement of the trolley pole and means entirely independent of the tensioning means for returning said trolley retrieving mechanism to its normal inoperative position.

23. In a device of the class described, a trolley pole, a trolley rope connected to said pole, tensioning means for automatically maintaining the trolley rope in a taut condition, in combination with trolley retrieving mechanism, means entirely independent of the tensioning means for maintaining said trolley retrieving mechanism in an inoperative position and pneumatic mechanism or throwing said trolley retrieving mechanism into operation by abnormal movement of the trolley pole.

24. In a device of the class described, a trolley pole, a trolley rope connected thereto, pneumatic trolley retrieving mechanism and two opposed spring mechanisms one of which tensions the trolley rope and the other of which maintains the pneumatic trolley retrieving mechanism normally in an inoperative position.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 9th day of November 1904.

PETER DANIEL MILLOY.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR J. WILSON, MARY C. CARROLL. 

